The motives influence which data is provided, to what extent and in what form: In order to strengthen transparency and participation, as much data as possible is published in formats that are easy for people to read, while formats that can be further processed by machines are more likely to be chosen to create more added value.

A lack of user focus thwarts the goals of Open Data. It is not enough to publish any data unstructured. Obsolete data, incomplete and inconsistent metadata, poor findability due to missing search and filter options or other weaknesses in the design of an Open Data portal hinder the use of the data. In order to achieve the goals of Open Data, data must be easy to find, understandable and usable.

Open Data should improve the cooperation between authorities, increase the transparency of politics and enable new business models. The demands on the administration are high, but hurdles are encountered during implementation. Critics argue that open data is rarely used – reason enough to take stock.

Based on four European metropolises, the Competence Center Public IT (ÖFIT) at Fraunhofer FOKUS not only identifies differences in the implementation of Open Data in the recently published study, but also deals with the respective use. What happens when political promises meet administrative reality?

To answer this question, we invite you to travel to London, Hamburg, Berlin and Vienna. On the way you will learn how Open Data ecosystems are created and what is crucial for a successful implementation of Open Data.